Make sense of defense with insights, salt, and wit. Fence in for interviews and anecdotes about the ins, outs, and happenings at the intersection of military, technology, industry, policy, strategy, and history. Brought to you by <a href="http://www.themerge.co" rel="nofollow">The Merge newsletter</a>.

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2023/5/13/12/71149984-89e0-4027-bbf2-b57ef5831a27_e11_-_finalmp3.mp3

Mike and Jake chat with Chris Moran, VP and General Manager of Lockheed Martin Ventures, for an inside look into why the world’s largest defense company invests hundreds of millions of dollars into tech startup companies. ----Links* Sign up for our amazing newsletter <a href="https://www.themerge.co/" rel="nofollow">https://www.themerge.co</a> * Support us on Patreon <a href="https://www.patreon.com/the_merge" rel="nofollow">https://www.patreon.com/the_merge</a> * Lockheed Martin Ventures <a href="https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/who-we-are/lockheed-martin-ventures.html" rel="nofollow">https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/who-we-are/lockheed-martin-ventures.html</a> * Machina Labs <a href="https://www.machinalabs.ai/" rel="nofollow">https://www.machinalabs.ai/</a>* Norm Augustine <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norman_R._Augustine" rel="nofollow">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norman_R._Augustine</a>* Augustine’s laws <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Augustine%27s_laws" rel="nofollow">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Augustine%27s_laws</a>----Follow us on...* Instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/merge_newsletter" rel="nofollow">https://www.instagram.com/merge_newsletter</a> * Facebook <a href="https://www.facebook.com/themergenews" rel="nofollow">https://www.facebook.com/themergenews</a> * Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/MergeNewsletter" rel="nofollow">https://twitter.com/MergeNewsletter</a> * LinkedIn <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/themerge" rel="nofollow">https://www.linkedin.com/company/themerge</a> * Website <a href="https://www.themerge.co/" rel="nofollow">https://www.themerge.co</a> ----Show Notes(01:03) intro(03:08) icebreaker(04:59) how Chris got into defense(07:35) how Chris got into defense finance(11:52) VC 101 (12:21) Lockheed’s investment track record(14:32) how to exit an investment(19:10) quantum use-cases(20:30) Machina Labs(23:02) investment tension(25:11) times have changed(32:20) dual-use hedge(38:15) Lockheed Martin CEOs(41:46) Kelly Johnson(48:16) magic wand(49:51) what everyone gets wrong about innovation(52:17) graveyard of eVTOL companies(55:13) lightning round(58:45) outro

E11 – Lockheed Martin Ventures

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2023/4/29/15/75b27c0b-1576-4313-97c1-75e325eb6c7d_ep10_-_final_final_pod_audiomp3.mp3

Mike and Tim chat with Andrew “Scar” Van Timmeren from Blue Force Technologies to hear about their experience in the defense tech sector and how they are trying to punch above their weight class—by building an unmanned fighter jet drone.----Links* Sign up for our amazing newsletter <a href="https://www.themerge.co/" rel="nofollow">https://www.themerge.co</a>* Support us on Patreon <a href="https://www.patreon.com/the_merge" rel="nofollow">https://www.patreon.com/the_merge</a>* Blue Force Technologies <a href="https://blueforcetech.com/" rel="nofollow">https://blueforcetech.com/</a> * Scar’s LinkedIn <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewvt/" rel="nofollow">https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewvt/</a>----Follow us on...* Instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/merge_newsletter" rel="nofollow">https://www.instagram.com/merge_newsletter</a>* Facebook <a href="https://www.facebook.com/themergenews" rel="nofollow">https://www.facebook.com/themergenews</a>* Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/MergeNewsletter" rel="nofollow">https://twitter.com/MergeNewsletter</a>* LinkedIn <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/themerge" rel="nofollow">https://www.linkedin.com/company/themerge</a>* Website <a href="https://www.themerge.co/" rel="nofollow">https://www.themerge.co</a>----Show Notes(01:05) intro(03:03) Scar intro(05:52) BFT(13:01) spicy take on digital engineering(15:28) BFT&#39;s SBIR experience(24:56) funding gaps(25:47) valley of death(34:47) end user vs. customer are not the same(36:18) Fury(37:35) practice squads(43:27) mission-specific vs multi-role engineering(46:30) autonomy and atrophy(48:28) speed of business vs govt(50:10) the ask – security and over-classification(52:03) Mike&#39;s spicy take(52:55) outro

E10 – Unmanned Fighter Drones

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2023/4/7/7/ac1f7031-b49f-4157-b96f-2fe2daf8f8ad_e9_-_final_podcast_audio.mp3

Mike, Jake, and Tim reunite to catch up on three tech topics: the SVB bank run, national security concerns with TikTok, and the latest with generative AI.----Links* Sign up for our amazing newsletter <a href="https://www.themerge.co/" rel="nofollow">https://www.themerge.co</a> * Support us on Patreon <a href="https://www.patreon.com/the_merge" rel="nofollow">https://www.patreon.com/the_merge</a> * Ask Sage (GPT for US govt CUI data) <a href="https://www.asksage.ai/" rel="nofollow">https://www.asksage.ai</a> * Creating a task-driven autonomous agent using GPT4 <a href="https://yoheinakajima.com/task-driven-autonomous-agent-utilizing-gpt-4-pinecone-and-langchain-for-diverse-applications/" rel="nofollow">https://yoheinakajima.com/task-driven-autonomous-agent-utilizing-gpt-4-pinecone-and-langchain-for-diverse-applications</a>* Jake’s AI book recommendation (Daemon, by Daniel Suarez): <a href="https://www.amazon.com/DAEMON-Daemon-Daniel-Suarez/dp/0451228731" rel="nofollow">https://www.amazon.com/DAEMON-Daemon-Daniel-Suarez/dp/0451228731</a>   ----Follow us on...* Instagram https://www.instagram.com/merge_newsletter* Facebook https://www.facebook.com/themergenews* Twitter https://twitter.com/MergeNewsletter* LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/themerge* Website https://www.themerge.co ----Show Notes(00:31) intro(1:25) Jake’s SVB steak dinner (2:00) SVB bank run(4:51) SVB and national security(16:57) TikTok(19:46) the upside of TikTok(23:56) TikTok&#39;s algorithm after the hearing(27:18) TikTok&#39;s big China problem(34:08) The Restrict Act(39:33) Generative AI(41:08) BingAI vs ChatGPT(43:53) AI story time(44:55) Ask Sage(49:18) ChatGPT for legal help(58:42) outro

E9 – Tech Happenings

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2023/3/13/0/dc97f18c-0c0f-42e2-8dd0-9a3825496718_ep_8_pod_mp3.mp3

Mike joins forces with The Afterburn Podcast’s John “Rain” Waters to co-host an epic interview with the Commander of the Air Force Thunderbirds AND the Executive Officer of the Navy Blue Angels. We go behind the scenes with both teams to learn about leadership, flying, teamwork in a way you’ve never heard before. ----Links* Sign up for our amazing newsletter https://www.themerge.co* Support us on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/the_merge* The Afterburn Podcast https://www.theafterburnpodcast.com/ ----Follow us on...* Instagram https://www.instagram.com/merge_newsletter* Facebook https://www.facebook.com/themergenews* Twitter https://twitter.com/MergeNewsletter* LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/themerge* Website https://www.themerge.co ----Show Notes(01:20) intro(2:45) icebreaker(10:06) sitting in the same room(12:53) learning from each other(13:55) T-birds rough period(14:47) sometimes you can see culture(15:40) cultural waves in the two teams(16:36) the T-birds T-38 cultural era(19:02) President Carter’s Crisis of Confidence(26:02) Blue’s “glad to be here” culture(27:59) how tough is the flying?(29:44) there is no off-season(33:37) team dynamics of an exemplar squadron(35:08) The T-birds’ hangar(36:27) contagious culture of excellence(36:42) Agile Combat Employment(37:27) Blue Angels&#39; hangar(39:57) how they travel(43:28) authority and trust are key(45:19) Fat Albert(46:12) Van Halen M&amp;Ms(47:15) they’ve never canceled due to maintenance(48:47) Angels on arrival(50:01) debrief culture(50:52) Fat Albert JATO(52:18) Top Gun Maverick(54:10) new Super Hornets(57:30) T-Birds’ tricks to flying that good(1:03:00) Angels’ tricks to flying that good(1:04:43) counting feathers(1:06:17) aiming to crash(1:07:57) most memorable experience on the teams(1:08:59) Chris Darnell(1:14:12) outro

E8 - Leading the Blue Angels & Thunderbirds

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2023/2/23/22/b0ef1bb9-1721-473a-b784-93a391e72d93_ep7__full_audio_for_pod.mp3

Mike “Starbaby” Pietrucha joins Mike and Jake to talk about Ukraine on the one-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion. Hear about how it all happened, where the war stands today, what matters now, and what the future looks like for peace.----Links* Sign up for our amazing newsletter <a href="https://www.themerge.co/" rel="nofollow">https://www.themerge.co</a> * Support us on Patreon <a href="https://www.patreon.com/the_merge" rel="nofollow">https://www.patreon.com/the_merge</a> * NAFO <a href="https://nafo-ofan.org/" rel="nofollow">https://nafo-ofan.org/</a>* Saint Javelin <a href="https://www.saintjavelin.com/" rel="nofollow">https://www.saintjavelin.com/</a>* Sign My Rocket <a href="https://signmyrocket.com/" rel="nofollow">https://signmyrocket.com/</a>* Amateur Hour Part II: <a href="https://warontherocks.com/2022/08/amateur-hour-part-ii-failing-the-air-campaign/" rel="nofollow">https://warontherocks.com/2022/08/amateur-hour-part-ii-failing-the-air-campaign/</a>----Follow us on...* Instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/merge_newsletter" rel="nofollow">https://www.instagram.com/merge_newsletter</a> * Facebook <a href="https://www.facebook.com/themergenews" rel="nofollow">https://www.facebook.com/themergenews</a> * Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/MergeNewsletter/" rel="nofollow">https://twitter.com/MergeNewsletter</a> * LinkedIn <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/themerge" rel="nofollow">https://www.linkedin.com/company/themerge</a> * Website <a href="https://www.themerge.co/" rel="nofollow">https://www.themerge.co</a> ----Show Notes(00:50) intro(2:28) Starbaby becomes an expert(3:51) the real invasion start(9:03) why did Putin invade?(12:14) Nazis?(15:20) torture(17:07) weather stalemate(18:42) climate change?(20:26) NAFO and the internet campaigns(22:26) sponsor suicide boats(23:05) foreign aid(25:17) a lab to observe(29:25) ground-launched SDB(31:12) ATACMS(31:44) Kerch Bridge(33:22) logistics(34:15) Russia’s inability to fight a war(36:26) China is watching(37:23) what does peace look like?(41:23) Ukrainian’s take on peace(44:25) outro

E7 - Ukraine: 1 Year Later

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2023/2/11/19/df146aca-3819-47c8-bbe2-22ff08a6b654_ep6_full_audio.mp3

Hermeus CEO AJ Piplica joins us to talk about the hypersonic airplanes they’re building, breaking the SR-71 speed record, their go-to-market strategy, the parallels to Top Gun Maverick, and a ton of other stuff. ----Links* Sign up for our amazing newsletter <a href="https://www.themerge.co/" rel="nofollow">https://www.themerge.co</a> * Support us on Patreon <a href="https://www.patreon.com/the_merge" rel="nofollow">https://www.patreon.com/the_merge</a> * AJ LinkedIn <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/ajpiplica/" rel="nofollow">https://www.linkedin.com/in/ajpiplica/</a>* AJ Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/AJ_Piplica" rel="nofollow">https://twitter.com/AJ_Piplica</a>* Hermeus <a href="https://www.hermeus.com/" rel="nofollow">https://www.hermeus.com/</a>* Hermeus Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/HermeusCorp" rel="nofollow">https://twitter.com/HermeusCorp</a> ----Follow us on...* Instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/merge_newsletter" rel="nofollow">https://www.instagram.com/merge_newsletter</a> * Facebook <a href="https://www.facebook.com/themergenews" rel="nofollow">https://www.facebook.com/themergenews</a> * Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/MergeNewsletter/" rel="nofollow">https://twitter.com/MergeNewsletter</a> * LinkedIn <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/themerge" rel="nofollow">https://www.linkedin.com/company/themerge</a> * Website <a href="https://www.themerge.co/" rel="nofollow">https://www.themerge.co</a> ----Show Notes(00:57) intro(5:45) AJ’s origin story (7:25) how old were you?(8:24) not a space person(10:11) sequestration(10:48) missiles to aircraft (12:41) Monospony the board game(13:12) Raising money the right way(15:04) the name?(16:42) how Hermeus was funded(18:33) AJ loves our ChatGPT rap song(19:16) AJ&#39;s spicy take on defense profits(22:06) climbing the food chain(23:14) using a T-38 engine to go Mach 4(24:08) Top Gun Maverick(25:52) Quarterhorse(28:52) breaking the SR-71 speed record(31:04) Darkhorse(33:41) avoiding the Valley of Death(40:09) lobbying is the price of entry(41:22) AJ&#39;s Christmas Tree(46:05) why do it at all?(49:00) Hermeus has one competitor(51:28) Halcyon(55:51) how the Pentagon prices things(59:52) outro

E6 - Hypersonic Airplanes

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2023/1/28/21/28d67812-8851-46ee-be1f-a1cb908a479d_ep5_-_finalmp3.mp3

Merge Podcast Episode 5: Mike, Jake, and Tim pick apart some op-eds about military spending for research and development spending, innovation, and why the military sucks at getting tech to the warfighter. They also catch up on the news about grounded airplanes with NOTAM crash, ponder the legalisms of having secrets in a garage, and end with a discussion on some AI tools—and a surprise.----Links* Sign up for our amazing newsletter <a href="https://www.themerge.co/" rel="nofollow">https://www.themerge.co</a> * Support us on Patreon <a href="https://www.patreon.com/the_merge" rel="nofollow">https://www.patreon.com/the_merge</a> * Op-Ed 1: <a href="https://warontherocks.com/2023/01/leveraging-u-s-capital-markets-to-support-the-future-industrial-network/" rel="nofollow">https://warontherocks.com/2023/01/leveraging-u-s-capital-markets-to-support-the-future-industrial-network/</a>* Op-Ed 2: <a href="https://news.bloomberglaw.com/federal-contracting/why-dod-should-get-out-of-the-r-d-business-mislav-tolusic" rel="nofollow">https://news.bloomberglaw.com/federal-contracting/why-dod-should-get-out-of-the-r-d-business-mislav-tolusic</a>----Follow us on...* Instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/merge_newsletter" rel="nofollow">https://www.instagram.com/merge_newsletter</a> * Facebook <a href="https://www.facebook.com/themergenews" rel="nofollow">https://www.facebook.com/themergenews</a> * Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/MergeNewsletter/" rel="nofollow">https://twitter.com/MergeNewsletter</a> * LinkedIn <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/themerge" rel="nofollow">https://www.linkedin.com/company/themerge</a> * Website <a href="https://www.themerge.co/" rel="nofollow">https://www.themerge.co</a> ----Show Notes(1:00) intro(2:03) op-ed 1 – $$ (13:39) lab to field challenges(15:55) IP(17:10) cemented culture (18:56) misaligned incentives(20:11) op-ed 2 - defund R&amp;D(22:37) innovation time horizons(23:36) proportion investing in R&amp;D vs procurement(25:07) Mike’s spicy take on R&amp;D spending(29:30) Tim on transitioning tech(32:50) Congress spending cuts(37:42) cut the Pentagon(40:20) – how a bill becomes a law(41:37) the deficit is a national security challenge(42:39) NOTAMs down!(47:34) Mike goes down a NOTAM rabbit hole(47:55) military NOTAM website(50:40) classified papers by a corvette(59:01) ChatGPT or other AI news(1:13:28) a rap song(1:15:48) outro

E5 - Military Tech Spending is Broken

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2023/1/15/14/da862391-9ef9-4293-9201-ab8c8f53cf64_ep_4_final_audio_amplified.mp3

Mike hosts defense acquisition experts Eric Lofgren and Matt MacGregor to better understand just how hard it is for the US military to buy stuff. We also discuss a shortcut called a Middle Tier Acquisition (MTA), along with some examples you’ve probably heard of: B-52 engines, F-15EX fighter jets, and hypersonic missiles.----Links* Sign up for our amazing newsletter <a href="https://www.themerge.co/" rel="nofollow">https://www.themerge.co</a>* Support us on Patreon <a href="https://www.patreon.com/the_merge" rel="nofollow">https://www.patreon.com/the_merge</a>* Eric contact <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/elofgren/" rel="nofollow">https://www.linkedin.com/in/elofgren/</a>* Eric’s Acquisition Talk <a href="https://acquisitiontalk.com/" rel="nofollow">https://acquisitiontalk.com</a> * Matt contact <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-macgregor77/" rel="nofollow">https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-macgregor77/</a>* Matt’s op-ed <a href="https://www.defenseone.com/ideas/2022/09/get-know-middle-tier-awesomeer-acquisition/377017/" rel="nofollow">https://www.defenseone.com/ideas/2022/09/get-know-middle-tier-awesomeer-acquisition/377017/</a>* Pentagon Wars (full movie) <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ir0FAa8P2MU" rel="nofollow">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ir0FAa8P2MU</a>----Follow us on...* Instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/merge_newsletter" rel="nofollow">https://www.instagram.com/merge_newsletter</a>* Facebook <a href="https://www.facebook.com/themergenews" rel="nofollow">https://www.facebook.com/themergenews</a>* Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/MergeNewsletter/" rel="nofollow">https://twitter.com/MergeNewsletter</a>* LinkedIn <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/themerge" rel="nofollow">https://www.linkedin.com/company/themerge</a>* Website <a href="https://www.themerge.co/" rel="nofollow">https://www.themerge.co</a>----Show Notes(1:00) intro(4:12) overview(5:06) monopsony(6:58) requirements(9:04) Pentagon Wars(20:45) acquisition strategy(23:44) “joint”(31:58) how much does it cost?(35:38) the budget(37:11) the PPBE(43:06) what is the NDAA?(45:38) what is an MTA?(53:15) MTA examples(53:27) B-52 engines(1:01:00) IVAS (Army AR headset)(1:05:06) F-15EX(1:11:05) F-22 Link-16 and IRST(1:11:50) ARRW (hypersonic)(1:17:44) story time

E4 - How the Pentagon Buys Stuff

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2022/12/31/14/3b9fd655-dea5-4e8c-a796-f598a1ef0b7e_ep3_pod_final_-_mp3.mp3

Nukes, Fusion, and ChatGPT<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-benitez/" rel="nofollow">Mike Benitez</a> is back with <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakechapman/" rel="nofollow">Jake Chapman</a> (<a href="https://twitter.com/vc" rel="nofollow">@VC</a>), and <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-n-90244199/" rel="nofollow">Tim Nolan</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/natsectim" rel="nofollow">(@natsectim</a>) to discuss Russian nukes in the news, a breakthrough in fusion, TikTok, and all things ChatGPT. Tim cheats on a pop quiz in real time, Mike discovers Jake’s secret past, and Jake opines on the value of a future PutinGPT.----Links* Want more intel and insights? Sign up for our <a href="https://www.themerge.co/" rel="nofollow">amazing newsletter</a>* Support us on <a href="https://www.patreon.com/the_merge" rel="nofollow">Patreon</a>* Tim’s <a href="https://www.the-sun.com/news/6911324/putin-readies-nuke-launch-missile/" rel="nofollow">nuke article</a>* <a href="https://chat.openai.com/chat" rel="nofollow">ChatGPT</a>----Follow us on...* <a href="https://www.instagram.com/merge_newsletter/" rel="nofollow">Instagram</a>* <a href="https://www.facebook.com/themergenews" rel="nofollow">Facebook</a>* <a href="https://twitter.com/MergeNewsletter/" rel="nofollow">Twitter</a>* <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/themerge" rel="nofollow">LinkedIn</a>* <a href="https://www.themerge.co/" rel="nofollow">Website</a>----Show Notes(00:30) Intro(1:24) Russia nuke news(3:23) details don’t matter(9:00) we finally read the article(11:34) missile sponge(14:18) pop quiz(15:03) Tim explains fission(16:55) Tim share’s his secret(17:46) The best segway(18:26) fusion in the news(26:38) the next best segway(28:32) Mike share’s his secret(29:23) ChatGPT(37:15) PutinGPT(41:10) ChatGPT comments(42:06) TikTok(45:36) Jake’s TikTok spicy take(49:02) You were a lawyer?!(51:00) How to ban tiktok?(53:32) ChatGPT writes the outro

Mike Benitez is back with Jake Chapman and Tim Nolan to discuss Russian nukes in the news, a breakthrough in fusion, TikTok, and all things ChatGPT. Tim cheats on a pop quiz in real time, Mike discovers Jake’s secret past, and Jake opines on the value of a future PutinGPT. 
----
Links
* Want more intel and insights? Sign up our amazing newsletter https://www.themerge.co/
* Support us on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/the_merge
* Tim’s nuke article https://www.the-sun.com/news/6911324/putin-readies-nuke-launch-missile/
* ChatGPT https://chat.openai.com/chat
----
Follow us on...
* Instagram https://www.instagram.com/merge_newsletter/
* Facebook https://www.facebook.com/themergenews
* Twitter https://twitter.com/MergeNewsletter/
* LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/themerge
* Website https://www.themerge.co/
----
Show Notes
(00:30) Intro
(1:24) Russia nuke news
(3:23) details don’t matter
(9:00) we finally read the article
(11:34) missile sponge
(14:18) pop quiz
(15:03) Tim explains fission
(16:55) Tim share’s his secret
(17:46) The best segway
(18:26) fusion in the news
(26:38) the next best segway
(28:32) Mike share’s his secret
(29:23) ChatGPT
(37:15) PutinGPT
(41:10) ChatGPT comments
(42:06) TikTok
(45:36) Jake’s TikTok spicy take
(49:02) You were a lawyer?!
(51:00) How to ban tiktok?
(53:32) ChatGPT writes the outro

E3 - Nukes, Fusion, & ChatGPT

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2022/12/17/22/6fb7cf26-e460-4536-961a-84f4c65e1fa5_ep2_pod_final.mp3

Host <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-benitez/" rel="nofollow">Mike Benitez</a> brings the spirit of the Merge in a full court press to discuss Adversary Air—aka Red Air—in a way you’ve never heard. It’s an entertaining journey through the history, policy, technology, strategy, industry, and business of Red Air.Today’s guests:* <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-wilson-031a6732/" rel="nofollow">Kevin “Shaggy” Wilson</a>* <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-fishel-a258591b9/" rel="nofollow">Ryan “Stinger” Fishel</a>* <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewvt/" rel="nofollow">Andrew “Scar” Van Timmeren</a>* <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-%E2%80%9Cvader%E2%80%9D-brandon-7754376a/" rel="nofollow">Jeff “Vader” Brandon</a>----Links* Want more intel and insights? Sign up for <a href="https://www.themerge.co/" rel="nofollow">the Newsletter</a>* Support us on <a href="https://www.patreon.com/the_merge" rel="nofollow">Patreon</a>* Shaggy - <a href="https://www.topaces.com/" rel="nofollow">Top Aces</a>* Scar - <a href="https://blueforcetech.com/" rel="nofollow">Blue Force Technology</a>* Vader - <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/kodiak-shack-podcast/id1629475766" rel="nofollow">Kodiak Shack Podcast</a>* Stinger’s F-117 article: <a href="https://warontherocks.com/2022/11/train-like-you-fight-updating-americas-adversary-fleet/" rel="nofollow">Train Like You Fight</a>* <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2022/10/02/astronaut-training-fighter-jets/" rel="nofollow">Jared Isaacman’s MiG-29</a>----Follow us on...* <a href="https://www.instagram.com/merge_newsletter/" rel="nofollow">Instagram</a>* <a href="https://www.facebook.com/themergenews" rel="nofollow">Facebook</a>* <a href="https://twitter.com/MergeNewsletter/" rel="nofollow">Twitter</a>* <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/themerge" rel="nofollow">LinkedIn</a>* <a href="https://www.themerge.co/" rel="nofollow">Website</a>----Show Notes(1:28) – Guest Intros(4:23) – What is adversary air?(13:15) – the industry(15:25) – Congress gets involved(18:54) – how’s it going now (industry)(22:46) – how’s it going now (fighter pilot)(34:05) – Top Aces buys F-16s(39:30) – F-117 red air(47:08) – adversary drones(52:07) – the cost of self-supporting adversaries(55:21) – training is deterrence(56:18) – training modernization(1:04:27) – story time

E2 - Red Air

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2022/11/23/23/8f207480-3d43-45f0-aeb3-96fad18470dc_22_pod_master_file_project_standard_preset_mp3.mp3

Episode 1: A Star is Born! After too many excuses, <a href="https://www.themerge.co/" rel="nofollow">the Merge</a> newsletter’s <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-benitez/" rel="nofollow">Mike Benitez</a> launches the inaugural Merge podcast! Co-hosting duties are shared with <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakechapman/" rel="nofollow">Jake Chapman</a> (<a href="https://twitter.com/vc" rel="nofollow">@VC</a>) and <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-n-90244199/" rel="nofollow">Tim Nolan</a> (@NatSecTim). In this episode, we talk about 3 things the newsletter has never covered in its 2-year existence: venture capital, TikTok, and American Dynamism.Show Notes:(00:30) – the world’s most okayist defense podcast(1:02) – Co-host intros(3:58) – What is venture capital(20:49) – Jake and the Army Venture Capital Corporation(26:20 ) – TikTok and national security(39:16) – WTH is ‘American Dynamisn’ Subscribe to the newsletter:<a href="https://www.themerge.co/" rel="nofollow">https://www.themerge.co/</a>Patreon:<a href="https://www.patreon.com/the_merge" rel="nofollow">https://www.patreon.com/the_merge</a>

make sense of defense in an enjoyable way

E1 - A Star is Born!

Make sense of defense in an enjoyable way

Make sense of defense with insights, salt, and wit. Fence in for interviews and anecdotes about the ins, outs, and happenings at the intersection of military, technology, industry, policy, strategy, and history. Brought to you by The Merge newsletter.